U.S. patent number 11,441,833 [Application Number 16/798,683] was granted by the patent office on 2022-09-13 for entrance refrigerator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Kyukwan Choi, Yanghwan No, Minkyu Oh, Insun Yeo, Yezo Yun.
United States Patent |
11,441,833 |
Oh , et al. |
September 13, 2022 |
Entrance refrigerator
Abstract
A cold air supply device is applied to an entrance refrigerator.
The cold air supply device includes a thermoelectric element
forming a heat absorbing surface and a heat generating surface, a
cold sink in contact with the heat absorbing surface, a heat
absorption fan disposed above the cold sink, a heat sink in contact
with the heat generating surface, a heat dissipation fan disposed
below the heat sink, and an insulation material disposed between
the cold sink and the heat sink to block heat transfer. The cold
sink includes a sink body, and a plurality of heat exchange fins
arranged on the upper surface of the sink body. Absorption pads are
provided on both side edges of the sink body to absorb condensed
water generated on the surface of the cold sink.
Inventors: |
Oh; Minkyu (Seoul,
KR), Yeo; Insun (Seoul, KR), Choi;
Kyukwan (Seoul, KR), Yun; Yezo (Seoul,
KR), No; Yanghwan (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. (Seoul,
KR)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006555933 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/798,683 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200271370 A1 |
Aug 27, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Feb 25, 2019 [KR] |
|
|
10-2019-0021867 |
Jul 18, 2019 [KR] |
|
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10-2019-0086930 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B
21/02 (20130101); F25D 21/14 (20130101); F25D
23/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F25B
21/02 (20060101); F25D 21/14 (20060101); F25D
23/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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Other References
US. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/798,962, dated Oct. 21,
2021. cited by applicant .
U.S Office Action dated Apr. 4, 2022 for U.S. Appl. No. 16/798,617.
cited by applicant .
U.S. Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/798,778, dated Jun. 14,
2022. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Vazquez; Ana M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An entrance refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet configured to
extend through a door or a wall, the cabinet including a storage
compartment therein for storing goods; a housing located at a lower
side of the cabinet; an outdoor side door coupled to an outdoor
portion of the cabinet to open or close the storage compartment; an
indoor side door coupled to an indoor portion of the cabinet to
open or close the storage compartment; a cold air supplier
configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment, at least
a portion of the cold air supplier being located in a space defined
by the housing and the lower side of the cabinet; and a controller
configured to control operating of the cold air supplier, wherein
the cold air supplier comprises: a thermoelectric element having a
heat absorbing surface and a heat generating surface; a cold sink
in contact with the heat absorbing surface; a heat absorption fan
disposed above the cold sink; a heat sink in contact with the heat
generating surface; a heat dissipation fan disposed below the heat
sink; and first and second absorption pads provided at first and
second edge portions, respectively, of the cold sink to absorb
condensed water generated on a surface of the cold sink.
2. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cold
sink comprises: a sink body in contact with the heat absorbing
surface; and a plurality of heat exchange fins located on an upper
surface of the sink body, wherein the first and second absorption
pads are located at a left side and a right side, respectively, of
the sink body.
3. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the sink
body comprises: a lower body contacting the heat absorbing surface;
and an upper body above the lower body, the upper body having an
area larger than an area of the lower body, wherein the heat
exchange fins protrude from an upper surface of the upper body,
extend lengthwise along a left-to-right direction of the upper
body, and are spaced apart from each other in a front-to-rear
direction of the upper body.
4. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 3, further
comprising first and second support plates located at a left side
and a right side, respectively, of the upper body, wherein the
first and second absorption pads are provided on the first and
second support plates, respectively.
5. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein an upper
surface of each of the first and second absorption pads is coplanar
with an upper surface of the upper body.
6. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein an upper
surface of each of the first and second absorption pads is lower
than an upper surface of the upper body.
7. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the left
side of the upper body includes a first insertion groove into which
a portion of the first support plate is inserted, and wherein the
right side of the upper body includes a second insertion groove
into which a portion of the second support plate is inserted.
8. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to control the cold air supplier
to provide a defrosting mode in which the controller: provides a
supply of power to the heat absorption fan, stops a supply of power
to the thermoelectric element, and stops a supply of power to the
heat dissipation fan.
9. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the
controller is further configured to resume the supply of power to
the thermoelectric element and to the heat dissipation fan after a
set time elapses from a time point when the supply of power to the
thermoelectric element and to the heat dissipation fan is
stopped.
10. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the
controller is further configured to control the cold air supplier
to provide a defrosting mode in which the controller: stops a
supply of power to the cold air supplier, and supplies a reverse
voltage to the thermoelectric element after a first set time
elapses from a time point when the controller stops the supply of
power to the cold air supplier.
11. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the
controller is further configured to, when the reverse voltage is
being supplied to the thermoelectric element, supply power to the
heat absorption fan.
12. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the
controller is further configured to, after a second set time
elapses from a time point when the controller begins to supply the
reverse voltage to the thermoelectric element, stop the supply of
power to the thermoelectric element and the heat absorption
fan.
13. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the
second set time is longer than the first set time.
14. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the
controller is further configured to, when a temperature of the
storage compartment is higher than a set temperature, and after a
third set time elapses from a time point when the controller stops
the supply of the reverse voltage to the thermoelectric element,
supply a forward voltage to the thermoelectric element.
15. The entrance refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the
controller is further configured to: when the forward voltage is
supplied to the thermoelectric element, perform a cooling mode by
supplying power to the heat absorption fan and the heat dissipation
fan; and when the temperature of the storage compartment is equal
to or lower than the set temperature, end the cooling mode by
stopping the supply of power to the thermoelectric element, the
heat absorption fan and the heat dissipation fan.
16. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet configured to be located
partially within a barrier of a building, the cabinet including a
storage compartment therein, the cabinet having a first opening
into the storage compartment and a second opening into the storage
compartment, the second opening being spaced from the first
opening; a housing located at a lower side of the cabinet; a first
door coupled to the cabinet to open or close the first opening; a
second door coupled to the cabinet to open or close the second
opening; and a cold air supplier configured to supply cold air to
the storage compartment, at least a portion of the cold air
supplier being located within the housing, wherein the cold air
supplier comprises: a thermoelectric element having a heat
absorbing surface and a heat generating surface; a cold sink in
contact with the heat absorbing surface; a heat absorption fan
disposed above the cold sink; a heat sink in contact with the heat
generating surface; a heat dissipation fan disposed below the heat
sink; and first and second absorption pads provided at first and
second edge portions, respectively, of the cold sink to absorb
condensed water generated on a surface of the cold sink.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the cold sink
comprises: a sink body having a lower surface, an upper surface, a
first side and a second side; and a plurality of heat exchange fins
located on the upper surface of the sink body, wherein the lower
surface of the sink body contacts the heat absorbing surface of the
thermoelectric element, wherein the first and second absorption
pads are located at the first side and the second side,
respectively, of the sink body, and wherein an upper surface of
each of the first and second absorption pads is coplanar with or
lower than the upper surface of the sink body.
18. A method of controlling a refrigerator, the refrigerator
including a storage compartment, a cold air supplier configured to
supply cold air to the storage compartment, the cold air supplier
including a thermoelectric element having a heat absorbing surface
and a heat generating surface, and a heat absorption fan, and a
controller configured to control operating of the cold air
supplier, the method comprising controlling the cold air supplier
to provide a defrosting mode by: stopping a supply of power to the
cold air supplier; supplying a reverse voltage to the
thermoelectric element after a first set time elapses from a time
point when the controller stops the supply of power to the cold air
supplier; and supplying power to the heat absorption fan when the
reverse voltage is being supplied to the thermoelectric
element.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising stopping
the supply of power to the thermoelectric element and the heat
absorption fan after a second set time has elapsed from a time
point when the controller begins to supply the reverse voltage to
the thermoelectric element.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising supplying
a forward voltage to the thermoelectric element when a temperature
of the storage compartment is higher than a set temperature, and
after a third set time has elapsed from a time point when the
controller stops the supply of the reverse voltage to the
thermoelectric element.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims the benefits of priority to Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2019-0021867, filed on Feb. 25, 2019, and
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0086930, filed on Jul. 18,
2019, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
BACKGROUND
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator installed at an
entrance of a building, such as a home or a business.
Recently, delivery services for delivering fresh goods to
predetermined places are being utilized. In particular, when the
goods are fresh food, a delivery vehicle is provided with a
refrigerator or a warmer to store and deliver the food so as to
prevent the food from spoiling or cooling.
Generally, the food is packed in a packaging material and delivered
so as to keep the food cool or warm, depending on the type of food.
The packaging material is often composed of environmental
pollutants such as polystyrene foam. The social atmosphere recently
has placed an emphasis on a reduction of an amount of packaging
material used.
When a user is at home at the time of a delivery, the delivery
person may deliver the food to the user in a face-to-face manner.
However, when the user is not at home or when the delivery time is
too early or too late, it is difficult for the delivery person to
deliver the food in a face-to-face manner.
Therefore, there is a need to be able to deliver the food even if
the delivery person does not face the user, and to prevent the food
from spoiling or cooling until the food is finally delivered to the
user.
To solve this problem, in recent years, a product has been
introduced in which a refrigerator is installed at an entrance
(e.g. a front door) of a predetermined place, so that a delivery
person can deliver the food into the refrigerator in order to keep
the food fresh until a user can receive the food by accessing the
refrigerator at a convenient time.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2011-0033394 (Mar. 31,
2011) discloses an entrance refrigerator mounted on a front
door.
When a thermoelectric element is used for cooling the storage
compartment of the entrance refrigerator, condensation is formed on
a surface of a cold sink attached to a heat absorbing surface of
the thermoelectric element that reduces the heat exchange ability
of the cold sink.
In addition, condensed water formed at the cold sink flows down to
drop on the bottom of the entrance refrigerator, and drops down on
the floor of the entrance through a gap formed at the bottom of the
entrance refrigerator.
Therefore, there is a need for a structure or a method capable of
controlling condensation formed on the surface of a cold sink.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure has been proposed to improve the
above-described problems.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an entrance
refrigerator having a structure in which condensed water generated
on a surface of a thermoelectric element and flowing along a bottom
of a cold sink is quickly collected to prevent the condensed water
from being frozen on the surface of the cold sink or flowing to the
outside of the entrance refrigerator.
A cold air supply device may be applied to an entrance refrigerator
according to one embodiment. The cold air supply device may include
a thermoelectric element forming a heat absorbing surface and a
heat generating surface, a cold sink in contact with the heat
absorbing surface, a heat absorption fan disposed above the cold
sink, a heat sink in contact with the heat generating surface, a
heat dissipation fan disposed below the heat sink, and an
insulation material disposed between the cold sink and the heat
sink to block heat transfer.
In addition, the cold sink may include a sink body, and a plurality
of heat exchange fins arranged on the upper surface of the sink
body. Absorption pads may be mounted on both side edges of the sink
body to absorb condensed water generated on the surface of the cold
sink.
In addition, a controller of the entrance refrigerator is
configured to stop the supply of power to the thermoelectric
element to permit heat to transfer from the heat generating surface
to the heat absorbing surface and the cold sink. Therefore, frost
formed on the cold sink is melted and flows to the absorption pads.
The water absorbed by the absorption pads is evaporated by the
heat. In this manner, a natural defrosting may be performed.
In addition, the controller is configured to stop the supply of
power to the thermoelectric element and the heat dissipation fan,
and drives only the heat absorption fan, such that the water
absorbed by the absorption pads is evaporated by air in the storage
compartment forcibly flowing due to the heat absorption fan. In
this manner, the natural defrosting may be performed.
In addition, the controller is configured to supply a reverse
voltage to the thermoelectric element to increase the temperatures
of the heat absorption surface and the cold sink. The frost formed
on the cold sink is melted and flows to the absorption pads, and
the water absorbed by the absorption pads is evaporated by the
heat.
In addition, the controller is configured to rotate the heat
absorption fan such that the water absorbed by the absorption pads
is evaporated by air in the storage compartment forcibly flowing
due to the heat absorption fan.
In addition, when the water absorbed by the absorption pads is
evaporated to complete the defrosting operation, the controller is
configured to selectively perform the cooling operation of cooling
the storage compartment according to the internal temperature of
the storage compartment.
The entrance refrigerator configured as described above according
to the embodiment has the following effects.
In detail, since the absorption pads are mounted on both side edges
of the sink body constituting the cold sink attached on the heat
absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element, condensed water
flowing down along the surface of the heat exchange fins is
absorbed by the absorption pads.
In addition, since cold air in the storage compartment forcibly
flowing due to the rotation of the heat absorption fan evaporates
the condensed water absorbed in the absorption pads, a separate
container for storing condensed water is not required, and a
discharge pump for discharging the condensed water is not
required.
In addition, since the condensed water is absorbed by the
absorption pads, it is possible to prevent condensed water from
flowing into a housing through a gap formed at the edge of the sink
body, and to prevent condensed water from leaking to the outside of
the housing and dropping to the floor of the entrance.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the
accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an entrance refrigerator installed at a
front door, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the entrance refrigerator installed at the
front door, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the entrance refrigerator
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the entrance refrigerator
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator in
a state in which an outdoor side door is removed for clarity of
illustration, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the entrance refrigerator in a
state in which an indoor side door is removed for clarity of
illustration, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the entrance refrigerator
according to an embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the entrance refrigerator,
taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the entrance
refrigerator, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a cold sink of a cold air
supply device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the cold sink according to
an embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line
13-13 of FIG. 11.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting method of the
entrance refrigerator.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a defrosting method of the
entrance refrigerator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter, an entrance refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of an entrance refrigerator 10 according to
an embodiment installed at a front door of a building, such as a
residence, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the entrance refrigerator
10 installed at the front door, according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the entrance refrigerator 10 according
to the embodiment may be mounted by passing through a
suitably-sized opening in a front door 1 or a front wall of a
house.
In detail, the entrance refrigerator 10 may be mounted at a point
spaced apart from a knob 2 of the front door 1, for example, the
entrance refrigerator 10 may be mounted at the center of the front
door 1.
In addition, the entrance refrigerator 10 is preferably installed
at a height within two meters from the bottom of the front door 1
for convenience of a user and for convenience to a delivery person
who delivers goods to the entrance refrigerator 10. Preferably, the
entrance refrigerator 10 may be installed at a height in a range of
1.5 meters to 1.7 meters from the bottom of the front door 1.
One portion of the entrance refrigerator 10 is exposed to the
outside O (outdoors), and another portion of the entrance
refrigerator 10 is exposed to the inside I (indoors). For example,
in the entrance refrigerator 10, the surface exposed to the outside
O may be defined as the front surface (or outdoor portion) at the
front side (exterior side) of the door or wall, and the surface
exposed to the inside I may be defined as the rear surface (or
indoor portion) at the rear side (interior side) of the door or
wall. The door or wall provides a barrier in or around a building,
such as, but not limited to, a house, apartment, office, hospital,
or the like.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the entrance refrigerator 10
according to the embodiment will be described in more detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator 10
according to an embodiment, FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of
the entrance refrigerator 10, and FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective
view of the entrance refrigerator 10.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the entrance refrigerator 10 according
to the embodiment may include a cabinet 11, an outdoor side door
12, an indoor side door 13, and a housing 15.
The cabinet 11 has a front opening provided in a portion of the
cabinet 11 located at the front (exterior) side of the door or
exterior wall, and a rear opening provided in a portion of the
cabinet 11 located at the rear (interior) side of the door or
interior wall. The cabinet 11 may have an approximately hexahedral
shape with a front wall and a rear wall interconnected by a
plurality of side walls. The front opening may be provided in the
front wall of the cabinet 11, and the rear opening may be provided
in the rear wall of the cabinet 11, although the embodiment is not
limited thereto. For example, the front opening and the rear
opening may be provided on a same side of the cabinet 11 depending
on the location where the entrance refrigerator 10 is being
installed. The outdoor side door 12 may be rotatably coupled to the
cabinet 11 so as to selectively open or close the front opening of
the cabinet 11. The outdoor side door 12 may be opened by the
delivery person in order to store goods in the entrance
refrigerator 10. In addition, the outdoor side door 12 may be
opened by the user so as to withdraw goods from the entrance
refrigerator 10.
Here, the term "user" is defined as a person who has ordered goods
that are stored in the entrance refrigerator 10 by the delivery
person, or as a person having authority to release the goods from
the entrance refrigerator 10.
In addition, the indoor side door 13 may be rotatably coupled to
the cabinet 11 so as to selectively open or close the rear opening
of the cabinet 11.
A display 14 may be provided on the outdoor side door 12. The
display 14 may display information about an operating state of the
entrance refrigerator 10, an internal temperature of the entrance
refrigerator 10, and the presence or absence of goods in the
entrance refrigerator 10.
In addition, the delivery person who delivers goods may input a
password or the like through the display 14 for opening the outdoor
side door 12.
A code scanner for recognizing an encryption code provided in a
shipping order or a shipping box may be provided on one side of the
outdoor side door 12.
The indoor side door 13 is used by the user within the house to
take out goods stored in the entrance refrigerator 10. That is, the
user can open the indoor side door 13 to withdraw the goods from
the entrance refrigerator 10 and into the house.
A guide light 131 may be provided at one side of the indoor side
door 13. The guide light 131 may be a device for informing a user
whether or not goods are currently stored in the entrance
refrigerator 10. For example, the color of the guide light 131 may
be set differently depending on whether goods are stored in the
entrance refrigerator 10 or whether the entrance refrigerator 10 is
empty. The user may recognize whether there are goods currently
being stored even without opening the indoor side door 13.
The housing 15 is provided at the lower end of the cabinet 11,
either integrally as part of the cabinet 11 or as a separate
element attached to the cabinet 11. A cold air supply device 30
(cold air supplier), to be described later, is accommodated in the
housing 15. The front surface of the housing 15 comes into close
proximity with the rear surface of the front door 1 or the wall
when the entrance refrigerator 10 is mounted on the front door 1 or
the wall, and contact between a portion of the front surface of the
housing 15 and the rear surface of the front door 1 or the wall
cancels the moment due to the eccentric load of the entrance
refrigerator 10 within the opening of the front door 1 or the
wall.
In detail, the entrance refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment
has a structural characteristic in which a volume of a part exposed
indoors is larger than a volume of a part exposed outdoors of the
front door 1. Therefore, the center of gravity of the entrance
refrigerator 10 is formed at a point eccentric rearwardly of the
center of the entrance refrigerator 10. As a result, the moment is
generated by the load of the entrance refrigerator 10 and the load
of goods stored therein. With such an arrangement, it is possible
that the entrance refrigerator 10 could be pulled out of the front
door 1 by the moment.
However, since the front surface of the housing 15 contacts the
rear surface of the front door 1 or the wall, the moment acting on
the entrance refrigerator 10 is cancelled, thereby preventing the
entrance refrigerator 10 from being separated from the front door
1.
A pair of guide ducts 16 may be provided at left and right edges of
the bottom surface of the housing 15. A discharge port 161 is
formed at the front end of each guide duct 16 so that indoor room
air, which flows into the cold air supply device 30 in the housing
15 and performs a heat dissipation function, may be discharged out
of the housing 15.
A guide plate 18 may be provided on an angled surface of the
cabinet 11 formed by the bottom surface of the cabinet 11 and the
front surface of the housing 15. The function of the guide plate 18
will be described below with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
An opening for suctioning indoor room air may be formed in the
bottom surface of the housing 15, and a suction plate 17 may be
mounted at the opening. A plurality of through-holes 171 may be
formed in the suction plate 17, and indoor room air is introduced
into the housing 15 through the plurality of through-holes 171. At
least part of the indoor room air introduced into the housing 15 is
discharged back out of the housing 15 through the discharge ports
161 of the guide ducts 16.
FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the entrance refrigerator 10
in a state in which the outdoor side door 12 is removed for clarity
of illustration, according to an embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a rear
perspective view of the entrance refrigerator 10 in a state in
which the indoor side door 13 is removed for clarity of
illustration, according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a storage compartment 111 in which
goods may be stored is provided within the cabinet 11. The storage
compartment 111 may be considered as a main body of the entrance
refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment.
A tray 19 on which goods are placed may be provided at a lower
portion of the storage compartment 111.
In addition, a guide rib 25 may be formed along the rear edge of
the cabinet 11. The guide rib 25 may protrude a predetermined
distance from the rear surface of the cabinet 11 and extend along
an edge of the cabinet 11. The guide rib 25 is provided to guide
some of the air discharged from the housing 15 upwardly to the area
surrounding the indoor side door 13 so that condensation is
prevented from forming on a gasket 22 surrounding the rear surface
of the indoor side door 13.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the entrance refrigerator
10 according to an embodiment, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of
the entrance refrigerator 10, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 3, and
FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the entrance refrigerator
10, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, as described above, the entrance
refrigerator 10 according to the embodiment may include the cabinet
11, the indoor side door 13, the outdoor side door 12, the housing
15, the guide duct 16, the suction plate 17, and the tray 19.
The entrance refrigerator 10 may further include a base plate 20
disposed at the bottom portion of the cabinet 11. The tray 19 may
be disposed above the base plate 20. The bottom surface of the tray
19 may be spaced apart upward from the base plate 20.
The entrance refrigerator 10 may further include a cold air supply
device 30 accommodated in the housing 15.
The cold air supply device 30 may be a device to which a
thermoelectric element (Peltier element) is applied, but the cold
air supply device 30 is not limited thereto. For example, a general
cooling cycle may be applied to the cold air supply device 30.
When a current is supplied to the thermoelectric element, one
surface thereof acts as a heat absorbing surface in which a
temperature drops, and the other surface thereof acts as a heat
generating surface in which a temperature increases. In addition,
when the direction of the current supplied to the thermoelectric
element is changed, the heat absorbing surface and the heat
generating surface are swapped.
In detail, the cold air supply device 30 may include a
thermoelectric element 31, a cold sink 32 attached to the heat
absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element 31, a heat
absorption fan 33 disposed above the cold sink 32, a heat sink 34
attached to the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric
element 31, a heat dissipation fan 36 disposed below the heat sink
34, and an insulation material 35 for preventing heat transfer
between the cold sink 32 and the heat sink 34.
The insulation material 35 is provided to surround the side surface
of the thermoelectric element 31. The cold sink 32 comes into
contact with the upper surface of the insulation material 35, and
the heat sink 34 comes into contact with the lower surface of the
insulation material 35.
The cold sink 32 and the heat sink 34 may include a thermal
conductor directly attached to the heat absorbing surface and the
heat generating surface, respectively, of the thermoelectric
element 31, and a plurality of heat exchange fins extending from
the surface of the thermal conductor.
The heat absorption fan 33 is disposed to face the inside of the
cabinet 11, and the heat dissipation fan 36 is disposed directly
above the suction plate 17.
The entrance refrigerator 10 may further include a mount plate 24
mounted on the bottom of the cabinet 11, and a flow guide 23
mounted on the upper surface of the mount plate 24.
The mount plate 24 may be formed in a shape in which a rectangular
plate is bent a plurality of times to include a bottom portion, a
pair of upstanding side portions, and a pair of outwardly extending
flange portions. The mount plate 24 may be formed in a shape in
which a flow guide seating portion 241, on which the flow guide 23
is seated, is recessed or stepped to a predetermined depth. A
through-hole 242 is formed at the bottom portion of the mount plate
24 defining the flow guide seating portion 241. A portion of the
cold air supply device 30 may pass through the through-hole 242 and
be mounted to the mount plate 24.
In addition, the flow guide 23 may be understood as a device for
forming the flow path of the air inside the storage compartment 111
which forcibly flows by the heat absorption fan 33.
The base plate 20 may be disposed above the flow guide 23 to
minimize a possibility that foreign substances could fall directly
onto the flow guide 23.
An outer gasket 21 is provided on an inner side of the outdoor side
door 12 that faces the cabinet 11, and an inner gasket 22 is
provided on an inner side of the indoor side door 13 that faces the
cabinet 11. The outer gasket 21 and the inner gasket 22 prevent
cold air within the storage compartment 111 from leaking to the
outside of the entrance refrigerator 10. Alternatively, the outer
gasket 21 may be provided on a portion of the cabinet 11 that faces
an inner side of the outdoor side door 12, and the inner gasket 22
may be provided on a portion of the cabinet 11 that faces an inner
side of the indoor side door 13. The portion of the cabinet 11 may
be a contact shoulder 115 to be described later. The outer gasket
21 and the inner gasket 22 prevent cold air within the storage
compartment 111 from leaking to the outside of the entrance
refrigerator 10.
FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a cold sink of a cold air
supply device according to an embodiment, FIG. 12 is a bottom
perspective view of the cold sink, and FIG. 13 is a longitudinal
cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 11.
Referring to FIGS. 11 to 13, the cold sink 32 of the cold air
supply device 30 according to the embodiment may include a sink
body 321 and heat exchange fins 322.
In detail, the sink body 321 is a portion forming the base of the
cold sink 32. The bottom surface of the sink body 321 is directly
attached to the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric
element 31, such that heat exchange is performed through heat
transfer.
The sink body 321 may be a rectangular plate, but the present
disclosure is not limited thereto.
In addition, the sink body 321 may include a lower body 321a
directly attached to the heat absorbing surface of the
thermoelectric element 31, and an upper body 321b formed on the
upper surface of the lower body 321a and having a cross-sectional
area larger than a cross-sectional area of the lower body 321a.
The lower body 321a may have the same cross-sectional area as that
of the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element 31.
The heat exchange fins 322 protrude from the upper surface of the
upper body 321b.
The edge of the upper body 321b may be spaced apart from the edge
of the lower body 321a by a predetermined interval, and the
insulation material 35 may surround the edge of the upper body 321b
and the edge of the lower body 321a. The insulation material 35 may
prevent an occurrence in which the upper body 321b and the heat
sink 36 exchange heat with each other.
A plurality of heat exchange fins 322 may be arranged on the upper
surface of the upper body 321b to be spaced apart from each other
by a predetermined interval in a front-to-rear direction. The
plurality of heat exchange fins 322 may extend from the left end of
the upper body 321b toward the right end of the upper body 321b,
with a length corresponding to the width of the upper body 321b.
The plurality of heat exchange fins 322 may extend from the upper
surface of the upper body 321b by a predetermined height.
In addition, a sensor assembly may be provided on one edge of the
cold sink 32.
In detail, the sensor assembly may include a sensor housing 323, a
temperature sensor, and a defrosting sensor mounted inside the
sensor housing 323.
The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the storage
compartment 111.
In addition, whether to perform the defrosting operation is
determined according to a detection value detected by the
defrosting sensor.
In addition, the sensor housing 323 may be provided on the end of
the heat exchange fin 322 extending from the edge of the cold sink
32.
A fastening boss 324 may be formed at the edge of the sink body
321. The fastening boss 324 may extend from each of the upper
surface and the lower surface of the sink body 321 by a
predetermined length. The fastening boss 324 may be formed in each
of the front end and the rear end of the sink body 321.
The cold sink 32 may include a condensed water absorption device
provided on the left surface and the right surface of the sink body
321.
The condensed water absorption device may include a support plate
325 mounted on each of the left surface and the right surface of
the sink body 321, and an absorption pad 326 provided on the upper
surface of the support plate 325.
An insertion groove 321c may be recessed on each of the left
surface and the right surface of the sink body 321 by a
predetermined depth. The insertion grooves 321c may extend from the
front end to the rear end of the side surfaces of the sink body
321.
One side end of the support plate 325 is inserted into and fixed to
the insertion groove 321c.
In a state in which one side end of the support plate 325 is
inserted into the insertion groove 321c, the other side end of the
support plate 325 protrudes from the side surface of the sink body
321 by a predetermined length. A distance from the side surface of
the sink body 321 to the other side end of the support plate 325 is
defined as the width of the support plate 325. The length of the
support plate 325 may be defined as the front-to-rear direction of
the sink body 321.
The absorption pad 326 may have a width corresponding to the width
of the support plate 325, and a length corresponding to the length
of the support plate 325. The absorption pad 326 may be attached to
the upper surface of the support plate 325.
The upper surface of the absorption pad 326 may be coplanar with
the upper surface of the upper body 321b. Alternatively, the upper
surface of the absorption pad 326 may be lower than the upper
surface of the upper body 321b, such that the upper surface of the
absorption pad 326 is stepped down in a stair shape.
The absorption pad 326 may be a nonwoven fabric or a desiccant
having a function of absorbing water, but the present disclosure is
not limited thereto. Any type of material having a water absorbing
function may be attached to the upper surface of the support plate
325 in a pad shape.
When a forward voltage is supplied to the thermoelectric element 31
so as to cool the storage compartment 111 of the entrance
refrigerator 10, the temperature of the surface of the sink body
321 coming in contact with the lower body 321a, that is, the
temperature of the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric
element 31, may be lowered.
At the same time, the temperature of the surface coming in contact
with the heat sink 34, that is, the temperature of the heat
generating surface of the thermoelectric element 31, may be
increased.
When the power is supplied to the heat absorption fan 33 to rotate
the heat absorption fan 33, air inside the storage compartment 111
forcibly flows to exchange heat with the cold sink 32. Therefore,
the air inside the storage compartment 111 may be lowered to the
temperature corresponding to the temperature of the cold sink
32.
As the temperature inside the storage compartment 111 is lowered to
a dew point temperature or less, condensation may form on the
surface of the cold sink 32, that is, the upper surface of the
upper body 321b and the surfaces of the heat exchange fins 322.
Due to gravity, the condensation formed on the heat exchange fins
322 flows down to the upper surface of the upper body 321b. The
condensed water flowing down to the upper surface of the upper body
321b flows to the left edge and the right edge of the upper body
321b. The condensed water flowing to the left edge and the right
edge of the upper body 321b is absorbed by the absorption pads
326.
The condensed water absorbed by the absorption pads 326 may be
evaporated by cold air introduced into a space between the adjacent
heat exchange fins 322 and flowing to the left edge and the right
edge of the cold sink 32. As such, the water absorbed by the
absorption pads 326 is evaporated by the circulating cold air, and
may be defined as defrosting.
When a specific condition is satisfied, one type of defrosting
operation may be performed. When this defrosting operation is
performed, a reverse voltage is applied to the thermoelectric
element 31, and the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric
element becomes the heat generating surface. The upper body 321b of
the cold sink 32 is heated, and heat transferred to the upper body
321b is also transferred to the support plate 325.
In addition, the heat transferred to the support plates 325 heats
the absorption pads 326 to evaporate water absorbed by the
absorption pads 326.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a natural defrosting method of
the entrance refrigerator 10.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a natural defrosting algorithm and a
reverse voltage algorithm may be applied as the defrosting methods
of the cold air supply device 30 in which the absorption pads 326
are attached to the left edge and the right edge of the cold sink
32.
The defrosting operation according to FIG. 14 may be understood as
a defrosting operation using the natural defrosting algorithm.
First, when a defrosting mode is turned on (S110), the supply of
power to the thermoelectric element 31 of the cold air supply
device 30 is stopped (S120). The detection value detected by the
defrosting sensor described above is transmitted to a controller
41a of the entrance refrigerator 10, and the defrosting mode is
performed when the controller 41a determines that a defrosting
operation condition is satisfied.
At the same time as stopping the supply of power to the
thermoelectric element 31, the heat dissipation fan 36 is turned
off (S130). That is, when the defrosting mode is turned on, the
power is supplied only to the heat absorption fan 33, and the
supply of power to the thermoelectric element 31 and the heat
dissipation fan 36 is stopped.
In this state, since the power is not supplied to the
thermoelectric element 31, the heat of the heat generating surface
is transferred to the heat absorbing surface. The heat transferred
to the heat absorbing surface is transferred to the cold sink 32 by
heat transfer. As a result, the temperature of the cold sink 32
rises.
As the temperature of the cold sink 32 rises, frost or ice formed
on the surface of the sink body 321 and the heat exchange fins 322
is melted. Water generated by the melted frost or ice is absorbed
by the absorption pads 326.
Meanwhile, since the heat absorption fan 33 continuously rotates
during the defrosting operation, the air inside the storage
compartment 111 continuously contacts the cold sink 32 and flows to
the left and right sides of the cold sink 32. At this time, since
the cold sink 32 is in a high temperature state, the temperature of
the air passing through the cold sink 32 also increases. Therefore,
the cold air in the storage compartment, which is forcibly flowing
due to the heat absorption fan 33, evaporates water absorbed by the
absorption pads 326 to remove defrosted water.
In addition, the heat transferred to the cold sink 32 is
transferred to the support plates 325, and the temperature of the
support plates 325 also increases. As the temperature of the
support plates 325 increases, the defrosted water absorbed by the
absorption pads 326 is evaporated.
The evaporated water is distributed in the storage compartment 111
in a gaseous state.
Meanwhile, the controller 41a of the entrance refrigerator 10
determines whether a set time elapses from a time point when the
supply of power to the thermoelectric element 31 and the heat
dissipation fan 36 is stopped (S140). The set time may be
understood as the time taken to sufficiently evaporate the water
absorbed by the absorption pads 326.
When the controller 41a determines that the set time elapses, the
controller 41a supplies the power to the thermoelectric element 31
and the heat dissipation fan 36 (S150, S160), and the controller
41a resumes the cooling operation of the cold air supply device
30.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating another defrosting method of
the entrance refrigerator 10.
Referring to FIG. 15, when the defrosting mode is turned on (S210),
the controller 41a of the entrance refrigerator 10 stops the supply
of power to the cold air supply device 30 (S220).
When a first set time (t1) elapses from a time point when the
supply of power to the cold air supply device 30 is stopped (S230),
a reverse voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element
(S240).
The reverse voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 31
after the first set time (t1) elapses from the time point when the
supply of power to the cold air supply device 30 is stopped in
order to minimize thermal impact of the thermoelectric element.
In detail, the voltage applied to the thermoelectric element is not
reduced to 0 V immediately when the power supplied to the
thermoelectric element is cut off, but is gradually reduced.
Therefore, when the supply of the forward voltage is stopped and
the reverse voltage is immediately supplied, a residual current
remaining in the thermoelectric element and a supplied reverse
current collide with each other to damage the circuit inside the
thermoelectric element.
For these reasons, it is preferable to set a pause period of a
predetermined time when the polarity (or direction) of the current
supplied to the thermoelectric element is switched.
At the same time as supplying the reverse voltage to the
thermoelectric element 31, the heat absorption fan 33 is turned on
(S250). That is, only the heat absorption fan 33 is driven, and the
heat dissipation fan 36 is maintained in a stopped state.
When the reverse voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element
31, the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element is
switched to the heat generating surface, and the heat generating
surface is switched to the heat absorbing surface. Therefore, the
temperature of the cold sink 32 increases.
Due to the heat transferred from the thermoelectric element 31 to
the cold sink 32, the temperature of the support plates 325 also
increases. As a result, the frost or ice formed on the surface of
the cold sink 32 is melted, and the melted water flows to the
absorption pads 326 and is absorbed by the absorption pads 326.
In addition, as the temperature of the support plates 325 rises,
the water absorbed by the absorption pads 326 is evaporated.
At this time, since the heat absorption fan 33 rotates, the cold
air in the storage compartment 111 contacts the cold sink 33, and
flows to the left side and the right side of the cold sink 33. The
cold air in the storage compartment 111, which flows in the
horizontal direction of the cold sink 33 due to the heat absorption
fan 33, further accelerates the evaporation of the defrosted water
absorbed by the absorption pads 326.
When a second set time (t2) required for sufficiently evaporating
the defrosted water absorbed by the absorption pads 326 elapses
(S260), the supply of power to the cold air supply device 30 is
stopped again (S270), and the defrosting operation is ended. That
is, the supply of the reverse voltage to the thermoelectric element
31 is stopped, and the rotation of the heat absorption fan is also
stopped.
After the defrosting operation is ended, the controller 41a detects
the temperature of the storage compartment 111 and determines
whether the temperature of the storage compartment 111 is
maintained at a set temperature (satisfactory temperature) or less
(S280).
When it is determined that the temperature of the storage
compartment 111 is the satisfactory temperature or less, the
operation of the cold air supply device 30 is stopped to end the
cooling operation.
However, when it is determined that the temperature of the storage
compartment 111 is higher than the set temperature (unsatisfactory
temperature), the cooling operation for cooling the storage
compartment 111 is performed.
To this end, after a third set time (t3) elapses from the time
point when the supply of the reverse voltage to the thermoelectric
element 31 is stopped (S281), the forward voltage is supplied to
the thermoelectric element 31 (S282). At the same time, the heat
absorption fan 33 and the heat dissipation fan 36 are operated
(S283).
Like the first set time (t1), the third set time (t3) is a period
provided for preventing thermal impact of the thermoelectric
element 31. Therefore, the third set time (t3) and the first set
time (t1) may be the same amount of time, but the present
disclosure is not limited thereto.
When the temperature of the storage compartment 111 is dropped to
the satisfactory temperature or less, the supply of power to the
cold air supply device 30 is stopped to end the cooling
operation.
The second set time (t2) may be longer than the first set time
(t1).
In an alternative method, after the second set time (t2) elapses,
the controller 41a may determine whether the temperature of the
storage compartment 111 is in a satisfactory state, and may stop
the supply of power to the cold air supply device 30. That is, the
order of operation S270 and operation S280 may be reversed.
In this case, when it is determined that the storage compartment
111 is at the satisfactory temperature, the supply of power to the
cold air supply device 30 is stopped to end both the defrosting
mode and the cooling mode.
However, when it is determined that the storage compartment 111 is
at the unsatisfactory temperature, the supply of the reverse
voltage to the cold air supply device 30 is stopped, and the
cooling mode may be performed by supplying the forward voltage to
the thermoelectric element after the third set time (t3) elapses
from the time point when the supply of power is stopped.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are
intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other
embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the
present disclosure.
Thus, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited
to the foregoing embodiment.
Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by
the detailed description of the invention but by the appended
claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as
being included in the present disclosure.
* * * * *